The anti-ageing power of vitamin CG and Pro-Xylane

Ageing is so much more than seeing a visible increase in fine lines and wrinkles on your face. Over time, your skin can lose density and elasticity, causing it to droop and look less firm.

With the success of L’Oréal Paris’ anti-ageing range Revitalift comes an even more potent version: L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Laser X3 Dual Action. Packed with powerful ingredients like vitamin CG and Pro-Xylane, it works to visibly correct wrinkles, smooth the skin’s texture and resupport the contours of your face by redensifying deep within.

We spoke with Dr Nina Wines, consulting dermatologist for L’Oréal Paris, about the power of this new product, and the ingredients inside that work to correct the signs of ageing in skin.

What is vitamin CG?

“Vitamin CG, also known as ascorbyl glucoside and vitamin C, is a derivative of ascorbic acid (AA). It can be obtained through diet from plants such as citrus fruits and leafy green vegetables. While ascorbyl glucoside shares many similarities to its precursor form, AA, its structure is less volatile and more favourable to use in skin care formulations. For this reason, the use of ascorbyl glucoside in skin care is often incorporated into topical products to provide vitamin C-like benefits,” says Dr. Wines. 

What are the benefits of vitamin CG on skin?

“Vitamin CG acts as a powerful antioxidant and as such has anti-ageing benefits and improves skin radiance, creating a natural, healthy glow. By providing antioxidant protection, ascorbyl glucoside is able to neutralise free radicals present on the skin, thus helping to maintain the skin’s overall quality and appearance.”

What is Pro-Xylane?

“To understand what Pro-Xylane is, it’s important to understand the structure of the dermis. The dermis is the foundation of the skin and is responsible for skin support. Collagen and elastin are the main components of the dermis and act like the scaffold of the skin and are essential to prevent skin sagging. GAGs (glycosaminoglycans) attract and retain a lot of water and fill the space between the collagen and other structures within the dermis to act as the ‘shock absorber’ and supporter of the collagen and elastin. GAGs, amongst other things, are important for volume of the skin. Pro-Xylane is a powerful molecule that has been proven by L’Oreal Laboratories to significantly increases the synthesis of GAGs by as much as 400 per cent. It also helps stimulate the production of Collagen I, III, IV and VII.

What are the benefits of Pro-Xylane on skin?

“A six-month study on 41 women, which was designed to evaluate the anti-ageing effectiveness of Pro-Xylane was conducted: Various clinical and instrumental evaluation methods were used. After six months women reported a reduction in crow’s feet wrinkles of 11 per cent, an improvement in skin density of 24 per cent and an improvement in skin fullness of 18 per cent. These are the reasons L’Oréal decided to use such a high concentration of Pro-Xylane in a single product.”

Are there any other ingredients in L’Oreal Paris Laser X3 Dual Action that work towards correcting the skin’s texture?

“Pro-Xylane is potentialised with other active ingredients including fragmented hyaluronic acid and LHA to create the Revitalift Laser X3 range. Hyaluronic acid is becoming a popular skin

ingredient in products these days to improve skin moisture, however, not all hyaluronics penetrate the skin to the same degree. L’Oreal Paris Laser X3 contains a fragmented hyaluronic acid, which means it has been transformed into a low molecular weight version that can penetrate the skin much better. This form of fragmented hyaluronic acid is biologically effective, in particular, on epidermal markers involved in epidermal regeneration that has a significant impact on skin texture. LHA is a L’Oréal Research active ingredient that, because of its pro-desquamation action, facilitates epidermal regeneration and is complementary to Pro-Xylane.”

We’ve seen reports that the L’Oreal Paris Laser X3 range is comparable to a laser session. How does this product compare to the X3 range and the laser session?

“A topical agent alone will never be equally as effective as a laser treatment, but can have benefits similar to laser, which has been demonstrated in studies, especially if the cream is applied for an extended period. Laser works immediately, and gives a quick result, but is associated with cost, downtime and sometimes discomfort. Creams are easily accessible and can be applied day in and day out and don’t require time off from work or discomfort. Quality products also enhance the benefits of laser.”

What can people expect when they first start using L’Oreal Paris Laser X3 Dual Action?

“Expect the skin to feel softer, more luminous and hydrated almost instantly.”

What can people expect when they continue to use L’Oreal Paris Laser X3 Dual Action for an extended period of time?

The true results of the range are obtained when used continuously long term. Laser X3 improves skin texture, luminosity and tone. The skin will appear fuller and more youthful.”

The Review Crew recently tried the new skin care product - read up on the summary report here.